Let's move it!

CEBU - It’s all systems go for the MOVE 5K RUN 2 which unfolds on November 30 at the Parkmall, North Reclamation, Mandaue City. Prime architect of the race Dr. Renald Ramiro chairman of the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (PARM) Visayas, said he’s expecting another successful staging of the run this year after its debut last year. Over 500 runners are expected to answer the starter’s gun in a run aimed to generate a critical illness fund for indigent persons with disabilities (PWDs). Some P120,000.00 was raised in last year’s run with three indigent PWDs already availing of the project to date. PARM also organized a MOVE MASSKARA 5K RUN in Bacolod last month during the Masskara Festival. With the success of the advocacy, PARM is planning to hold a run in Tacloban City next year during the Pintados Festival and in 2010, a bigger race in the Mall of Asia in Manila. In this Sunday’s race, the champions in both male and female divisions will receive P 3,000.00, the second placers P 2,000.00 and the third placers P 1,000.00. Fourth to tenth placers will each receive P 300.00. All winners will receive medals and running caps from Transfarma and sports bottles from Pfizer, while all finishers will receive singlets with the first 200 getting multi-vitamins. Registration is still going on at the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at Dr. Ramiro’s clinic at the Cebu Doctors University Hospital in Mandaue City. The MOVE 5K RUN 2 is also co sponsored by, Pfizer, Southwestern University, Boehringer, Getz Pharma, One Pharma Co. Inc., Novartis, Waterfresh Drinking Water, Ben Café, Wyeth, SV More, Roche, Arthro, Transfarma Phil., Manila Foodshoppe, Parkmall, The Freeman and Casa Ilongga.

Running Mecca

After the Midnight Run this December, I promised myself I’ll be going for a vacation in a Guimaras resort or in Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte. I even thought of leaving my mobile phone behind. But just as I was checking the airline schedules, a barrage of calls clogged my phone. First, it was Jojo Castro of the Iloilo Mayor’s Office who asked me to plan the Dinagyang Run on the last week of January. Then the other day, I was talking to Andrew Jimenez of Rotary West for a Rota Run in February. Earlier I already said yes to triathlete Nonoy Jopson to direct the first ever St. Theresa’s College Alumni Run for Hope in July with an estimated 2,000 runners including Gov. Gwen Garcia, Haida Acuna, Millette Chongbian Caecent Magsumbol, Jasmin Pages, Perl Jacalan, Amale Jopson, and my daughter Janice Uytiepo Ursal just to mention a few. I almost forgot I’ll be running in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on February 8. Atan Guardo already registered me in the full marathon, so I’m forced to train. Then in March, we will be organizing the first-ever Marco Polo Tower Run with the participants running 400 steps of the hotel stairs. First quarter “palang” I’m choking already with races every month. And oh yes, we will have a Sinulog Half Marathon on January 17. When I told my NewYork – based doctor brother Jun, Uytiepo about my schedules, he said he won’t only bring a tranquilizer gun; he’s bringing a straight jacket as well. What does my brother think of me “Buang?”. Yes “nabuang sigeg dagan”. But I’m almost retiring, 31 years of running, over 100,000 kilometers logged and some 250 races and counting, are not bad at all.

Condolences And Milestones

We would like to express our sympathies to the families of the late Job Tabada of CDN and former mayor Yoyong Borres, especially to Jobanie Tabada and Allan Delantar respectively. Belated happy birthday to Steve Ferraren (November 5) who run the LA Marathon last March, for that sumptuous breakfast at Tapa King after our 21K long run last Sunday. It was the last long run of Singapore – bound CERC members but will taper off with the MOVE 5K RUN on Sunday. Advance happy birthday to two pretty women on November 28 Roda Parreño of McDonalds South and Dalyn Hernandez. Registration to the 7th Cebu Midnight Run is now in full swing at the PSC office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at City Sport Club.  (THE FREEMAN)